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What is the Nursing Shortage?
As an approximate 80 million baby boomers in the United States reach retirement age, the demand for licensed nurses is increasing. Compounding the problem is the fact that nursing colleges and universities across the country are struggling to expand enrollment levels to meet the rising demand for nursing care. Because of the shortage of qualified nurses, Registered Nursing is anticipated to be one of the hottest jobs over the next several years. The nursing shortage means that many people earning their nursing degrees can write their own ticket to success. This is especially true for the those wanting to join the traveling nurse industry.
Some contributing factors impacting the nursing shortage:
- Enrollment in schools of nursing is not growing fast enough
- Limited nursing school faculty
- With fewer new nurses, the average RN age is climbing
- An aging US population
- Higher hospital census and greater acuity. Adjustments in managed care and a new drive for competitive quality is increasing patient stay, hours of nursing care and the recognition of the role of the RN
- Media perception - Nursing continues to suffer from the long-held stereotype that it's a lesser calling than becoming a physician.
The latest projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that more than 1.2 million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2014. The numbers are high, in part, because many nurses in the workforce are approaching retirement. In fact, a recent survey indicates that 55 percent of nurses working today intend to retire between 2011 and 2020.
There are numerous studies on how this shortage is preventing people from getting the quality care they deserve. The March 2006 issue of Nursing Economic$ noted that, "A comprehensive analysis of several national surveys on the nursing workforce found that (a) majority of nurses reported that the RN shortage is negatively impacting patient care and undermining the quality of care goals set by the Institute of Medicine and the National Quality Forum."
According to AACN's report on 2005-2006 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing, U.S. nursing schools turned away 41,683 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing in 2005 due to budget constraints and an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites and classrooms.
Many organizations are extremely concerned about the shortage and are diligently working with schools, policy makers, the media and other groups to bring attention to this health care crisis.
Various nationwide strategies taking place to address the nursing shortage:
- In 2006, many statewide initiatives were started to encourage current nurses to return to school to earn graduate degrees to teach the next generation of nurses.
- Nursing colleges and universities are forming strategic partnerships and seeking private support to help expand student capacity in schools.
- In June 2005, the US Department of Labor awarded more than $12 million in grant-funding through the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative - $3 million of which will help to address the nurse faculty shortage.
Other initiatives aimed at boosting the image and choice of nursing as a career start at the youth level. In the past nurses may have been viewed as those who hold less responsibility in patients care, whereas the truth is that nurses play an integral part in patient health. Educating students in the junior high and high school level can garner an early interest and give the students sight of how critical nurses are to the overall management of patient care.
Nursing is now the 2nd fastest growing occupation in the U.S. With over 100,000 open nursing positions available and the constant demand for healthcare workers, the career forecast is exceptional for the nursing field. This in turn means recent graduates who are just entering the field and already established healthcare workers have an advantage in negotiating bonuses, benefits and overall wages. Traveling nurses hold an even greater position in negotiations. At the national level there are approximately 12,000 vacancies for travel nurses requested by hospitals. Besides the possibility to earn more, there are incredible benefits such as free housing, paid travel, per diem and educational advancement opportunities and the ability to take 30 days off after each assignment.
Learn more about travel nursing:
What is travel nursing?
What makes a good travel nurse?
What is the nursing shortage?
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